Kejsi Tola

Kejsi Tola
Tola in 2009
Born (1992-05-03) 3 May 1992 (age 32)
Vlorë, Albania
Citizenship
  • Albania
EducationLiceu Artistik Jordan Misja Akademia e Arteve
Occupations
  • Singer
  • songwriter
Years active2004–present
Musical career
Genres
InstrumentVocals
Websitekejsitola.com

Kejsi Tola (Albanian: [ˈkɛjsi ˈtɔla]; born 3 May 1992)[1] is an Albanian singer and songwriter. After winning the 47th edition of Festivali i Këngës, she represented Albania at the Eurovision Song Contest 2009.[1][2]

Career

[edit]

Tola began performing at the age of six.[3] She completed her studies at Jordan Misja Artistic Lyceum.[1] At the age of 11, she won Young Voices of Albania, later becoming a two-time winner of Young Voices of Shkodra.[4] She was one of ten finalists of Gjeniu i Vogël [sq], and won the fourth edition of Ethet, the Albanian version of Pop Idol.[1][5]

In 2008, the Albanian national broadcaster Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH) announced that Tola was one of 20 artists selected to compete in the 47th edition of Festivali i Këngës with the song "Më merr në ëndërr".[6] On 21 December, Tola was declared the winner with 126 points, and was thus announced as the Albanian representative at the Eurovision Song Contest 2009 in Moscow, Russia.[5] In Moscow, she performed 16th during the second semi-final and qualified for the grand final, where she later placed 17th overall with a total of 48 points.[7][8]

In late 2009, it was confirmed that Tola would compete in the 48th edition of Festivali i Këngës with the song "Ndonjëherë". She competed in the final on 27 December and finished 15th with 58 points.[9] Following her participation, she announced a hiatus to pursue classical singing at the University of Arts in Tirana.[10]

Tola was announced as one of the participants in Festivali i Këngës 49 with the song "Pranë" on 15 November 2010, marking her third consecutive participation in the competition. She competed in the second semi-final on 24 December, but failed to qualify to the final.[11][12]

In 2012, Tola participated in the 51st edition of Festivali i Këngës with the song "S'jemi më atje", where she advanced to the final after competing in the second semi-final on 20 December. In the final, she finished in 4th with 42 points.[13][14]

In 2014, Tola entered Kënga Magjike with the song "Iceberg". She placed 5th and received the Production Award.[15][16] She later entered Kënga Magjike in 2018 with the song "Me ke mua".[17][18] The song was nominated at the 2019 Kult Awards for Best Song of the Year.[citation needed]

In 2023, she was selected to compete in Festivali i Këngës 62 with the song "Vallëzoj me dritën".[19] However, she later withdrew from the competition.[20]

Discography

[edit]

Singles

[edit]
  • "Një Minutë" (2008)
  • "Carry Me in Your Dreams" (2008)
  • "Qiellin do ta Prek me Ty" (2009)
  • "UAT" (2009)
  • "Ndonjëherë" (2009)
  • "Pranë" (2010)
  • "Më Jeto" (2011)
  • "Atje" (2012)
  • "Perëndeshë e Fantazisë" (2012)
  • "S'jemi më atje" (2012)
  • "Iceberg" (2014)
  • "U rritëm" (2018)
  • "Më ke mua" (2018)

Awards

[edit]

Kënga Magjike

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2009 "Qiellin Do Ta Prek Me Ty" The First Magic Won
2011 "Me Jeto" Best Vocal Won
2012 "Perendeshe e Fantazise" AMC Fun Page Prize Won
2014 "Iceberg" Best Production Won

Kult Awards

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2015 "Iceberg" Song of the Year Nominated

Young Voices of Albania

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2003 "Herself" First Prize Won

Young Voices of Shkodra

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2003 "Herself" First Prize Won
2004 "Herself" First Prize Won

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d "Kejsi Tola". eurovision.tv. European Broadcasting Union. Archived from the original on 28 September 2020. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  2. ^ "Albanien: Kejsi Tola". eurovision.de (in Albanian). Archived from the original on 13 February 2020. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  3. ^ Maloney, Carl (27 June 2023). "RGM Introducing - We Interview Albanian Artist Kejsi Tola". RGM. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
  4. ^ Bell, Frank (31 May 2023). "interview: Albanian fresh pop star Kejsi Tola, has been travelling around to create her EP 'LUMINOUS'". Fame Magazine. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
  5. ^ a b "Kejsi Tola to represent Albania in Moscow!". eurovision.tv. European Broadcasting Union. 22 December 2008. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
  6. ^ Laufer, Gil (18 December 2008). "Albania: FiK song titles and running order known". ESCToday. Archived from the original on 19 December 2008. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
  7. ^ "Second Semi-Final of Moscow 2009 - Eurovision Song Contest". eurovision.tv. European Broadcasting Union. Archived from the original on 25 April 2021. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
  8. ^ "Grand Final of Moscow 2009 - Eurovision Song Contest". eurovision.tv. European Broadcasting Union. Archived from the original on 25 April 2021. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
  9. ^ "Juliana Pasha to represent Albania in Oslo!". eurovision.tv. European Broadcasting Union. 28 December 2009. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
  10. ^ Sahiti, Gafurr (23 September 2010). "Albania: Kejsi Tola puts career on hold". ESCToday. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
  11. ^ "First qualifiers known as Albania heads for second semi". eurovision.tv. European Broadcasting Union. 24 December 2010. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
  12. ^ Sahiti, Gafurr (25 December 2010). "Albania: Nine acts qualify for the final". ESCToday. Archived from the original on 27 December 2010. Retrieved 26 September 2022.
  13. ^ "Festivali i Këngës on its way in Albania". eurovision.tv. European Broadcasting Union. 21 December 2012. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
  14. ^ "Adrian Lulgjuraj & Bledar Sejko win Festivali i Këngës!". eurovision.tv. European Broadcasting Union. 23 December 2012. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
  15. ^ "Rikthehet në arenë Kejsi Tola,kënga "Ajsberg", arma e saj". Shqiptarja.com (in Albanian). Retrieved 27 March 2024.
  16. ^ Besim, Ramadan (14 December 2014). "Aurela Gaçe & Young Zerka win Kënga Magjike 2014!". wiwibloggs. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
  17. ^ "Kejsi Tola sjellë baladën rrënqethëse 'Më ke mua'". Indeksonline (in Albanian). 25 November 2018. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
  18. ^ "Ja kush e fitoi 'Kënga Magjike 2018'! [FOTO]". www.intv.al (in Albanian). Retrieved 27 March 2024.
  19. ^ Juhász, Ervin (17 October 2023). "Meet all the participants of the 62nd Festivali i Këngës!". ESCBubble. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
  20. ^ Bijuvignesh, Darshan (1 November 2023). "Albania: More Details of Festivali i Këngës 62 Announced Including Line-up Change". Eurovoix. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
Awards and achievements
Preceded by Albania in the Eurovision Song Contest
2009 		Succeeded by
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